Posted: 9/23/2006 12:13:17 PM EDT
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I ve been thinking about adding a 1911 to my collection and am looking for some advice from those in the know. Please keep in mind that I had owned a Kimber CDP II that was nothing but trouble in regard to jambing and stove pipes. 2 trips back to Kimber and the same issues keep occuring, ammo changes and sticking with Kimber mags still made no change. a few requirements: 1) no longer then 5" since I plan on CCW with it 2) Parkerized or durable finish..no safe queen here! I was thinking about the Mil-Spec Springfield and adding a few options...any advice? My current Semi Autos are all Glocks...and they will be staying! |
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You provided some helpful info, but you haven't mentioned your financial ceiling. If you carry you should have the following features... Reliable, which means quality 1911, which means more expensive (or getting lucky with a cheaper one) 4" minimum for maximum reliability and 5" minimum if you are getting a cheaper brand. Night sights. I would suggest you get a SS pistol if you can't find the perfect parkerized one. That's what I carry for similar reasons. The best CCW package is the Wilson Compact which goes for @ $2,000. Colt makes a CCO which is a lesser pistol but much better than most and like the Wilson compacts, it's built ideally for CCW (officer/compact frame, 4"+ barrel). I imagine they run in the $800-$1,100 range. SA made a compact utilizing a compact frame and a 4" barrel. That might be satisfactory and would cost even less. I wouldn't dream of going lower than that for a compact 1911. If you go with a full size 5", you have more options because the 5" design is harder to fuck up. Still many companies manage to regardless because it's more about cranking out 75 good pistols and 25 pieces of shit than it is about making 50 really good ones. Springfield is a good base gun, but most people choose to enhance them at the gunsmith (and a few of them NEED to). |
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I would like to keep it under $1000 and at 5" for the same concern in that the variety will be larger. I thought with the Springfield I would have a good base and with $4-$500 spent at the Gunsmith I could be off and running. I might also opt to go with a high end model used. Possibly a used Ed Brown Kobra Carry. I also hear good things about STI |
If you buy the current MC Operator or the discontinued Loaded Operator (I'm wearing one now  ), then yes. I have nothing against the TRP Operator, and every single one of them ever made will probably outshoot me, but I am prefer not to have adjustable sights on a carry gun. I wouldn't turn one down, though. |